Method for making screen cloth



May 19, 1942. R. D. HElfLt-:R

MTHOD OF MAKING SCREEN CLOTH Filed July- 19, 1940 4 She'ejs-Sheet 1- .RV 0 wml.. E l., 0 TH. ND www 8 hm w. m h.. 4mm@ om N wwf/4 0;

m Nsb@ May 19, 1942. R. D. ln;-:LL.FR`

I METHOD 0E MAKINGl SCREEN CLOTH Filed July 19, 1.9.40 A 4 shetsl-Sheet 2 /NVENTORJ RICHARD D. HELLER;

HTT'Y.

May 19, 1942. R. D. HELLER l METHOD oF MAKING SCREEN qLo'rH 4 Sheetsv-Shet 4 vFiled July 19, 194@ INVENTORJ RICHARD D. HELLER,

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. N mw Patented May 19, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE the apparatus and method of attaching interf mediate strips to the screen cloth; and

17 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved method for making screen cloth, particularly of the type comprising a plurality of parallel strands of wire as distinguished from woven types of screen cloth.

An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a new and improved method of making screen cloth with greater efliciency and reduced cost.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing more or less diagrammatically a winding reel or drum comprising one feature of my invention and which may be employed in carrying out the method comprising another feature of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a stretching table comprising another feature of my invention which may be employed in carrying out the method of my invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged View of the stretching table of Fig. 2 with the length broken away to accommodate it to a sheet of drawing in which i there is also disclosed a pair of jacks which may be employed in carrying out the method of my invention which are shown performing two different operations which are part of the method;

Fig. 3EL is a side elevation of the jacks of Fig. 3 il carrying the modified structure of Fig. 9;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the stretching mechanism of the tables shown in Figs. 2 and 3 showing the table main frame in section;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a part".

of the winding reel or drum-of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5a is a side elevation of the end bar soldering outfit shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 5b is an enlarged sectional elevation taken on the line 5b, 5b of Fig. 5a looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional end elevational view taken on the lines 6-6 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6ad is a sectional elevation taken on the 1:',-

line 6a, (ia of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6b is a sectional plan view taken on the line Eb, 6b of Fig. 6;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a detailed part of the` 5 and 6 of the drawings.

Fig. 10 shows the construction of one of said intermediate strips.

The method herein disclosed relates to certain improvements in the method of making screen cloth which s disclosed and claimed in my Patent No. 2,220,106, granted November 5, 1940, for

a Method of making screen cloth,V and the screens produced may be of the type disclosed in my application Serial No. 234,014 filed October 8, 1938, for a Screen.

It is to be understood that unless a contrary fact is indicated, the screen cloth produced by the method of the instant application is the same as that disclosed in the aforementioned applications, and unless an inconsistency is indicated, the method herein disclosed for making the screen cloth follows that disclosed in one or both of the above mentioned applications.

In carrying out the method of my invention the screen cloth is rst started by winding wire under tension, such as high carbon steel Wire on a winding reel or drum I4 disclosed in Figs. 1, This winding reel or drum I4 comprises a main frame formed by a pair of space-d standards, one of which is seen at II in Fig. 1 of the drawings and which is supported in a pit I2.

Extending between the standards II is a stationary shaft I3 upon which is mounted a drum, reel or rotor I4 which is driven from an electric motor I5 by appropriate chain and sprocket drive mechanism I6 to rotatethe rotor I4 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. The rotor I4 is formed by a pair of spaced rings I'I, I-'I formed of angle members, each of which is provided with a plurality of vspokes I8, I8, of which there are six associated with each ring I'I, which number of course may be either increased or reduced as desired.- v

The spokes I8 provide guides I9 adapted to receive slidably the opposite ends of cross members 20 which, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, are preferably in the form of I-beams. The sliding adjustment between the cross members 20 and the guides I9 of course provide adjustment for the radial distance of each cross member 20 from the axis of the shaft I3, and it is manifest that this adjustment will determine the length of wire required to make a complete convolution.

To determine the position of each of the cross members 20, there is provided a plurality of radial pipes ZI, of which there are three illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The pipes 2| each extends from a center housing or hub of shaft I3 on the rotor I4 on which they are received in appropriate recesses, to an appropriate receiving recess 22 in one of the cross-members 2|). In practice I employ three of these radial pipes 2| for each of the cross-members 2U, and I have a large group of pipes 2| of different lengths so that by removing a group of pipes 2| of one length and substituting a group of different length, the length of a convolution of wire may be variably determined while at the same time the distance of each cross-piece 20 from the axis of rotation of the rotor I4 is substantially the same with any one group of. pipes 2 I.

If desired, provision may be made for tensioning of the wire after it is wound on the rotor I4 before any of the end bars (52, 53 of Fig. 5) are attached and also for the subsequent de-tensioning thereof after the end bars are attached, by devising means for adjusting each of the transverse I-beams 20, a relatively small amount such as an inch or so, with respect to the pipes 2|. Such means for adjusting each I-beam 20 may embody a plurality of openings' 23 in each of which is a screw 24 threaded into a cylindrical nut 2B having an integral collar 25, which nut 26 extends loosely into the associated recess 22 in the cylindrical spacer 25', and the latter may be integral with the I-beam 20. The bottom of the nut 25 abuts against the associated pipe 2|, as shown in Fig. 6a. It is evident that by adjusting the screw 24 the head of which bears against the top of the opening 23, the nut 26 will be forced into the recess 22 a variable amount which will `be limited by the collar 25 engaging the spacer 25', thus precluding the possibility of forcing the pipe 2| entirely out of recess 22. A set screw 25" may be used to hold the nut 26 in adjusted position relative to the spacer 25. Within the limits of adjustment provided, it is evident that screw 24 may adjust ably determine the relative position of the crossmember 2U with respect to the associated pipes 2| and spokes I8.

After the desired adjustment of the cross pieces 20 has been effected, they are preferably clamped in place by end clamps which are adapted to clamp each cross piece 20 to the associated spokes I8, I3. Such clamps may comprise plates 21 secured to spokes I8, I8 and held against the flanges of the I-beam 20 by means of the bolts 21', 21'. To provide a smooth bearing surface for the screen cloth wire each of the cross-members 20 is provided at its top with a bearing pipe 28 which is aligned between the guide means 29 in the form of strips welded to the top of the cross piece 20. The bearing pipe may be removably attached to said cross piece 20 by means of machine screws 30 extending into appropriate openings 23', 23 in the cross piece 20, as shown in Fig. 6. The structure of all the cross pieces 20 and associated members is substantially that illustrated at the left of Fig. and in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

Associated with one of said cross pieces 2U, as shown at the right of Fig. 5 and in Figs. '1 and 8, is a special structure which is for the purpose of carrying means for attaching two end bars of ultimate sections of screen cloth to the wire which has been wound upon the rotor I4.

Before describing this structure it may be pointed out that the high carbon steel or other wire 3| which forms the screen cloth is wound See Figs. 6 and 6b. E

upon the reel, drum or rotor I4 by rotating the same from the drive motor I5 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, while the wire 3| is fed from a spool through appropriate wire stranding mechanism and wire tensioning mechanism if desired, until the desired width of screen is formed on said rotor I4. The spacing of the wire 3| may be by appropriate lateral feeding mechanism associated with the wire 3| in cooperation with threaded spacer strips hereinafter described more completely.

Before describing the manner in which the winding of the wire 3| is started, stopped and possibly spliced, attention is directed to Fig. 5 of the drawings and to the mechanism associated with the righthand cross member |20. Attached to said cross member |20 is a plurality of brackets, one of which is seen at 32 to which is attached a plate 33 extending substantially the full length between the two opposite rings I1 of the rotor I4 (Fig. 4). The plate 33 is provided with a center boss 34 which extends longitudinally the entire length of said plate 33 and which is provided with a dovetailed groove 35 which also extends the full length thereof.

Slidably mounted on the boss 34 is a plurality of clamping members, preferably three in number, having construction illustrated particularly in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings. Each of said clamping members comprises a body 36 having a bottom boss 31 adapted to extend into the groove 35 associated with which is a dovetailed clamping block 38 adapted to receive a machine screw 39 which extends through the boss 31 and threads into said clamping block 38, the head of which is received in a center groove 40 in the body 35. It is manifest that by loosening the machine screw 39 the body 36 may be slid along the boss 34 and by tightening said screw 33 it may be clamped in any desired position.

The body 36 has two separate wire clamping members 4| and 42 spaced on opposite sides of the center groove 40 and provided with separate clamping machine screws 43 and 44 respectively.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. '1 of the drawings, severed ends of wire 3| may be clamped to the body 36 by the clamping members 4|, 42. As previously stated there are three pairs of these clamping members 4I and 42. The reason for this number is as follows: There is one of these clamping members or the equivalent thereof adjacent each ultimate edge of the screen as it is wound on the rotor I4. Of course to start the winding of the wire 3| on the rotor I4 a free end must be clamped to something and such a free end is clamped to one of the clamping members which is adjacent one side of the rotor I4. As the rotor I4 rotates, the wire 3| of course progresses laterally across the rotor until the desired width thereof has been wound on the rotor. The width of course is known before the winding operation starts and so the second clamping member is placed at the desired distance from the first clamping members to provide for this desired width of screen cloth, and when the desired width is wound on, the wire 3| is clamped to this second clamping member.

It may be stated that in using the rst and second clamping members which are described, the wire will be clamped to both of the clamping members 4| and 42.

The third clamping member is placed loosely on the boss 34 between the first and second so it can be freely adjusted along the groove 35. In my case it will not be used at all but the purpose of it is simply this: In case a spool of wire 3| comes to an end or is spliced, it is of course essential to take care' of either such condition, and this is done `by setting this third clamping member when either such condition arises vand. clamping the wire 3| as it comes from the spool by the clamping member 42. The wire 3| is then severed adjacent the clamp 42 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings@ If a splice has been effected, the new screen wire 3| is cut so as to eliminate the splicing portion andthe free end of this new wire is then clamped by the clamping member 4| and the operation of winding the wire 3| on the rotor I4 is continued. It is to be noted that the wire 3| is very closely adjacent the top of the body 36 and this body 36 is so constructed that if the screen clothY is of relatively fine mesh the successive strands thereof may readily pass over the top of said body 36 Without elongating these strands as compared with any strands which are laterally spaced from the body 35 of the intermediate clamping member. It is particularly significant to note as I shall point out more completely hereafter, that the severed wire 3| leading from the clamping members 4|, 42 of the intermediate clamp is no detriment whatever to the ultimate screen, because all of the strands of wire are ultimately severed substantially along the line of the boss 34.

After the desired amount of wire 3| has been wound on the rotor |4 to provide the desired Width of the screen cloth and the ends haveattach two end bars 52, 56 to the parallel strands of Wire 3|, which end bars' ultimately are end bars of different sections of screen cloth; that is, the length of each convolution of wire 3| which is wound onvthe rotor I4 is suicient to make up two or more sections or panels of screen cloth rather than being only long enough to make up only one section. To effect the attachment of these two end bars which, as previouslypointed out, will ultimately be associated with diiTerent sections of screen cloth, there is provided a pair of channel members and 46 (Fig. 5) which'extend longitudinally with respect to the plate 33 and boss 34 and transversely with respect to the axis of the wire 3|, said channel members 45 and 46 being on opposite sides of said boss 34.

Adjacent each edge of the channel member 45 is a strip 41 which has a plurality of spaced grooves therein which correspond with the mesh of the screen cloth which is to be formed. One way of making these strips 41 is to take a threaded pipe which has a number of threads per inch which corresponds with the mesh of screen cloth desired, and cutting the pipe into longitudinal strips about 1A?" wide which are held between spaced holding means, one at each end of the channel member 45 The channel member 46 is also preferably provided with channel strips 48.

At the bottom of the trough 49 there is loosely placed a bearing strip or plate 50 upon which is placed a longitudinally extending heater 'ele-i ment 5| preferably in the form of an electrical heater upon which is placed an end bar 52 which is ultimately soldered to the successive strands of wire 3|. See Fig. 5b. Interposed between the end bar 52 and heater 5| and extending along the sides thereof is al metal tray 53 for supporting therein and thereon a strip of asbestos 53.

It may be stated that the channel member 45, t

In order to provide adjustments for effecting the proper relation between the parallel strands of wire 3| and the end bar 52 prior to the soldering operation, two separate adjustmentsare provided which I shall now describe.

Extending longitudinally of the plate 33under the channel 45 and threaded therethrough is a plurality of set screws 54 (Fig. 5a) which abut against the bottom of the channel 45. It is thus evident that by adjusting these set screws 54 the channel member 45 may be elevated with respect to the plate 33. This not only makes possible the levelling of the channel member with respect to the plane of the strands of wire 3| but is particularly eiective to force the grooved strips 41 into intimate contact with the strands of wire 3| thus insuring the proper spacing of said wires 3| before the end bars 52 are soldered in place.

It is also desirable to force the end bar 52 against the successive strands of wire 3| independently of the above described action in forcing the 'strips 41 thereagainst and to this end there is another set of a plurality of set screws 55 which thread through the plate 33 and which extend freely throughnon-threaded openings in theA bottom of channel member 45 and bear against the bearing plate 50. These set screws 55, like the set screws 54, are distributed along the longitudinal length of the channel 45 (Fig. 5a) and consequently when said set screws are adjusted they force the bearing plate 50, the heater element 5| and the end bar 52 upwardly, thereby insuring intimate contact between said end bar 52 and the strands of wire 3|. This also insures intimate contact between the heater element 5| and the end bar 52 through the asbestos element 53. This insures a good transfer from the heater element 5| to the end bar 52. The interposed auxiliary channel 53 and sheet asbestos 53 will become heated up in a short time and does not prevent an effective transfer of heat from heater element 5| to Aend bar 52, which heat of course is employed to melt the solder which attaches the wires 3| to end bar 52.

Associated with the channel member 46 is the same combination of elements which I above described in association with the channelmember 45, and consequently they need not be described in detail.

The operation of the apparatus so far described with the cons-equent realization of so much of the method which is performed thereby may now be preferably described by way of review. The free end of the spool of wire 3| to be used in forming the screen ,cloth is attached to one end clamp member 36, 31, etc., as shown in Fig. 8, lafter the cross-members 2|) have been adjusted as previously described to produce a length of screen cloth which is suilicient to make the number of screen panels each of the predetermined length desired. For example, suppose it is desired to make two screen panels each 5 long and 3' wide. Under these conditions the cross-members 20 are adjusted so that the length of any convolution of wire 3| is slightly in. excess of 10', the excess being as little as possible in order to reduce waste to a minimum.

With the free end of wire 3| attachedto one side of the rotor I4, the latter is rotated by means of the motor |5 and the wire 3| wound up, the wire being fed laterally at a rate determined by the desired mesh of the screen cloth. Any splicing of the wire 3| will be eliminated as above described.

When the width of the clothV on the rotor I4 has reached the desired value which, in the illustration given, is 3', the wire 3| will be clamped to the second clamp 36, 31 etc., and the end thereof severed.` `Thereupon the channel members 45 and 45 which were previously removed from the plate 33 during the entire winding operation are put in place together with the parts associated with them which'were previously described. The set screws 54 and 55 are then successively adjusted, the first to bring the strip 41 into intimate contact with the successive strands of wire 3|, and the latter to force the end bar 52 in intimate contact with said successive strands of wire 3|. It is to'be understood that a duplicate operation and duplicate equipment is provided in association with the two channel members 45 and 46 so that there will be two spaced apart bars attached to the convolutions of wire 3|. Thereafter each of these two bars, that is, the end bar 52 associated with the channel member 45 and another end bar 55 associated with channel member 46 are soldered in place as aforedescribed, it being understood that the inner edges of the two end'bars 52 and 55 are ultimately to be the outer extremities of separate panels of screen cloth.

After said end bars 52 andv 55 have been soldered or otherwise attached tothe convolutions of wire 3|, said convolutions are cut along the line of trough 40. If this cutting operation were performed while theconvolutions of wire 3| were under tension as they are before and during the soldering operation, damage might be done either to the mechanism, the screen cloth or the operator; so to relieve the tension one or more of the cross-members 20 are adjusted towards the axis of rotor I4 by adjusting the set screws 24 associated therewith after the clamp m-eans 21 has been released.

With the convolutions of wire 3| severed as aforedescribed, it is of course evident that the elongated panel of screen cloth may readily be removed from the rotor I4 and there will be an end bar at each end with the ends of wire extending slightly beyond each end bar. These wire ends are then cut to a desired length if necessary and bent over with an extended strip of metal which preferably extends over the outer end of each end bar as described completely in my Patent No. 2,220,106, granted Nov. 5, 1940, for an improvement in Screen cloth and method of making same. 1

As I previously pointed out, I have thus provided an elongated panel of screen cloth which is illustrated at 51 in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings,

' and this panel 51 is now to be further treated to make a plurality of sections of screen cloth. which may be two or more such sections. .This further operation is performed on mechanism now to be described, and of course it frees the winding reel or drum I for further operation or, in other words, for the making of successive panels.

As shown in Fig. a the platform 33 is supported by two spaced-apart brackets 32. 32 and since the convolutions of wire are all Within the limits of the end wheels of the reel I4, the length of the platform 33 is approximately coextensive with the spacing of these wheels. After the ends of the wire convolutions are secured by means of the clamping mechanism shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the wires are preferably subjected to tension by moving one or more of the pipes 28 radially outward. When the Wires are taut operation of the soldering apparatus shown in Figs. 5 and 5b is facilitated. After the end bars have been soldered to the convolutions of wires above the platform 33, the tension on the wires may be relieved by retraction of one or more pipes 28 whereupon the wires between the attached bars 52, 55 may be severed.

-Itshould be particularly noted that I prefer to producee panels of screen cloth having only end bars and no intermediate parallel strips, by means of the structure shown in Figs. l, 5, 5a, 5b, 6, 6e, 6b, 7, and 8 including the winding reel and end bar soldering mechanism. In order to complete the screen cloth in readiness for use in a screen vibrating apparatus with the end bars and intermediate strips extending longitudinally and the wires transversely, I prefer to add the strips 19 of Fig. 10 by means of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 3a, 4, 9 and 10 including the panel stretching mechanism and the strip sol-dering means. It will thus be seen that the manufacture of the complete screen ready for use in vibrating mechanism involves a method having two main steps, one for the production of the panel 51 (Figs. 2 and 3) and the other for addition of the intermediate parallel strips 19. Furthermore, while a plurality of panels 51 may beproduced in connection with the reel, it is preferredv to form one long panel 51 from the endless panel on the reel, and then divide such panel 51 into two or more shorter panels by means of the apparatus shown in Figs. 3, 3a and 4.

Attention is now directed particularly to Figs. 2, 3, 4, 9 and l0 of the drawings which illustrate the apparatus and some of the steps involved in the treating of the panel 51 which has been removed from the winding reel or drum I0. Mechanism for treating said panel of screen cloth 51 is in the form of a table 58 comprising a main frame 59 which I have found can be conveniently made by merely taking a desired length of very heavy I-beam, to one end of which is attached a bracket having at its top a holding bracket 6| for removably receiving one of the end bars such as the end bar 52, which bracket 6I may take the form of the bracket associated With the deck of the screen which attaches the screen cloth thereto as disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 234,014.

The bracket 6I has a length comparable with the length of the longest end bar 52 which can be handled by the winding reel or drum I0. 'Io provide for supporting and stretching the panel of screen cloth 51 I have provided means for attaching the other end bar 56, which is shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings and which comprises an adjustable bracket 62 which is slidable along the top ange of the main frame 59 so as to be positioned at the proper distance from the bracket 6D to receive the length of panel of screen cloth 51, it being of course understood that the length of these panels will vary from time to time.

The bracket 62 comprises a box-like construction 63 whichmay be formed by welding together a pair of angular members from which extends downwardly a pair 'of spaced arms 64, t4 which extend below the topV flange of main frame 59. Extending inwardly from each of the arms 64, 64 is a locking block 65. Extendingupwardly from the box construction 63 is an arm 66 which, as clearly shown from Fig. 4 of the drawings, has an appreciable width and is provided with spaced reinforcing plates 61. Extendingacross the face of the arm 66 is a shelf 68 upon which is slidably mounted a plate 69 to which is attached a plurality of bolts 19 which extend through the arm 66 andare provided with nuts 1|. The plate 69 also carries an attaching bracket 12 similar to the attaching bracket 6| for removable attachment tothe end bar 56 of the panel of screen cloth 51.l Y j To adjust the bracket 62 to the desired position to receive the end bar 56, it is moved to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings where one side of the box 63 has a large bearing area of contact rwith the top flange of main frame 59 under which conditions the locking block 65 is spaced from the lower surface of the top flange of main frame 59 whereupon the bracket 62 may slide freely `along said'main frame 59. When said bracket 62vhas reachedthe position desired, it is rotated clockwise from the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings to the full line position in which position there is a relatively sharp edge of the boxlike construction 63 in contact with the top of the main frame 59, and the two locking blocks B5 are in contact with the lower surface o f said yflange in a position to the left of that position ,where said edge of box 63 contacts the top flange .of main frame 59. Under these conditions it is .of course evident that any force which tends to rotate the bracket 62 in a clockwise direction shall effect a clamping action between said sharp edge of box 63 and the top of the flange of main frame 59 and between the clamping blocks 65 and the bottom of said flange, thus securely clamping the bracket 62 in place.y Such action is of course afforded by the tensioning of the panel of screen cloth 51 which is effected by Vvirtue of the connection of the end bar 56 to the attaching brackets 12, the ultimate tension being applied by adjusting the nuts 1|, the end bar 56 being attached toV .bracket 12, of course with these nuts released suliciently to permitthis operation to be performed. Nuts 1| are adjusted to tension the panel of screen cloth 51 evenly over the entire area.

With the panel of screen cloth 51 thus tensioned on the tabler5i8, the next operations are.

those of attaching the desired number of end bars and intermediate strips. InL the illustration given the panell 51 was to be made into two sections of screen cloth, and consequently it is necessary to attach two additional end bars.` Such end bars are illustrated at 13 andV 14 in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and their manner of attachment will now be described. A

I provide one or more parallel motion jacks 15 each of which has a bottom plate 16 and a top.

plate 11. Each top plate 11 can be adjusted in height with respect to the bottom plate 16 by to be performed on the'panel of screen cloth 51 simultaneously. (Figs. .Sand 3a.)- To attachj the end bars 13 and 14 and Jcross strip 19 as shown in Fig. 3, generallyl similar operations are performed. The oper-ation of attaching the cross strip 19 (Fig. 10)"will' vnow briefly be described. v 'y The jack 15 is placedat the desired Yposition below thatrwhere the cross stripv 19 is to be attached, and said jack is adjusted so that the plate 11 is at approximately the proper height. Then plate 11 is provided with transverse'web 89 (Figs. 3, 3a and 9) upon Vwhich-is supported a channel member |rl5l and associated structure which is similar to that previously described in connection with channel member 45, it being understood that channel members Vassociated with channel |49 have a reference number' in which the number 1 precedes the numbers used in Fig. 5. After the channel |45 and the lassociated parts are in their proper places, the jack 15 is adjusted to force an intimate contact between the guide strips |41 and the wire'SI whereupon set screws |55 are adjusted toforce the heater element |5| upwardly against .they metal tray |53 and the asbestos |53' vtherein against the bar 8| which is not an end bar in this instance but which is substituted for an end bar and is provided with a center groove 82 (Fig. 9) in which are placed a plurality of strands of wire 83 (see Fig. 10) which maybe ofthe same constituency as wire 3|. `The groove' 82 is treated to preclude solder adhering thereto.

With the parts adjusted' as illustrated in Fig. 9 and as above described, the wires`83 will be forced into intimate contact with the wires 3| and the strip of solder which is laid Yon top of `the wires 3| above the. wiresV 83, is Vmelted after Aother side of the wires 3|,"thereby producing the cross strip connection 19 as illustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawings.

The illustration in Fig. 10 is of course reversed from that'in Fig. 9 because Fig. 1'0 shows the operating position of the screen cloth with the wires 83 on top thereof while Fig. 9'shows the position thereof-while the screen cloth'is being manufactured. Where special conditions 'of use of .the screen clothrequire the crossl strips 19 toA be the reverse of that illustrated in Fig. 9, it is only necessary to turn the panel of screen cloth 51'ov`er and provide areverse type Vof brackets 6| and 12r which ma;7 be provided and substituted for those illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. .When the brackets 6| andv .1.2 are 'used ingly;

To attach an end bar such as an end bar 13 or an end bar 14, the operatio'nis exactlyY the screw operated parallel link mechanism'18 while Y maintaining the top plate 11 parallel to the bottom plate 16 at all times. The bottom plates 16 of the jacks 15 merely rest on the top of main frame 59 so that either jack 15 may be placed in any position. A plurality 0f such jacksare preferably employed so that a plurality of operators j may perform the advance functions, which are same as that required to attach a cross strip 19 except for the fact of course that instead of the bar 8| I provide the end bar to be attached and the soldering operation is the same as that previously described connection with end bars 52and5s Fig.5 ).;py v

VAfter the desired number of cross strips 19 .and end bars, such as end bars 4,13 and 14, are atvthe time.

tached, the panel of screen cloth 51 has its tension slackened :by retracting the nuts 1l where upon said panel 51 is cut between each pair of end bars which, in the illustration given, will be between the end bars 13 and 14. Thereafter, if the extended lengths of wire beyond the end bars are excessive, they will be clipped 01T, bent over said end bars and covered by strips of tin 'plate which extend beyond each edge of the associated end bar 13 or 14 and also bent over as shown in my above mentioned Patent No. 2,220,106. In other words, Ythe bent over ends of the Wires may have soldered thereto strips of tin plate likewise bent over to cover the end portions of the wires 3| including the bent over ends.

As previously indicated, it is possible to make more `than two sections or panels of screen cloth on the table 58, and the number of such sections or panels can be readily determined in advance by lthe available length of the table and the length of yeach section or panel desired. The

number of persons that can operate on the panel of screen cloth 51 will vary with manyconditions, but it is evident that more-than one person may be operating on it atthe same-time'in attaching end bars orcross strips.

It is furthermore to be noted that the number of 'tables 58 and the number of winding reels or drums I4 need not be the same. For example, it may be found that under certain conditions one'winding drum I 4 when operated continuously will supply enough material for-more than one table 58 or a reverse condition might exist. Purely as'illustrative there might-be available three winding reels or drums l`4`and seven tables 58, all of which would be kept busy substantially all This increases clearly' the flexibility of operation and makes possible the maximum utilization of the equipment at all times-which is notpossible when all the work is performed on the winding drum or reel.

As shown in Fig. 5b the screw 55 is' threaded through the plate 33 (Fig. 5) but extends loosely through an openingin'the bottom ofthe channel 45. A transverse pin `35 extending through the screw55 serves to'carry the channel 45` upwardly and at the same time the channel may tilt or rock on the pin 85 to equalizeV the'pressure of strips 41,41 on the wires3l. The-pin L85also acts as a stop'to limitthe'extent"towhichthe screw 55 may be moved'upwardly` andthis limit stop action serves to 'hold'the'endbar 52' against the wires 3 l' witha predetermined" pressure.

While the claims hereto appended are directed r to improved methods itshould 'be noted that the reel above described is disclosedand claimedfin my co-pending application Serial No. 390,385, led April 25,1941, for Aan'improvement in Apparatus for making screen cloth. The'tensioning apparatus above described is Adisclosed Aand claimed in my co-pending application; Serial No. 390,386, filed-April 25, 1941'for an improvement in `Apparatus formaking screen'cloth. The'soldering apparatus above described in connection with Figs. 5, 5b, 7'and 8, is disclosed'and claimed in myfco-pendingY application, Serial No; 387,457, led April8, 1941, for an improvement `in Apparatus for malcngscreenrcloth. Thev screen cloth above `describedand illustrated in part'in Fig. 10 togetherwith the soldering apparatus illustrated -in Fig. 9 are disclosed and claimedinmy copending application, Serial Na-94,846, led-May 28, 1941, for Screen clothandmethodotrnaking same. .These .four col-pending applications Awere f each filed as divisions of the instant application.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and -scope of the invention as de'ned by the claims hereto appended, and I therefore wish not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Pa'tent of the United States is:

'1. The method of making screen cloth of parallel strands of wire which comprises winding a plurality of convolutions of wireon a reel to form a panelof screen-cloth 'having a length suiiicient to form a pluralityof screen ,cloth sections, attachingend bars `to opposite ends ofsaid panel which form ultimate end bars for separate screen cloth sections, severing the wire convolutions betweensaid end bars, removing the panel of Yscreencloth from said reel, thereafter tensioning said panel `of screen cloth, attaching additional-end bars-and cross strips thereto to formscreen cloth sections, and severingthe wires between said additional -end bars.

2. The-method of making screen clothof parallel strands of wire which comprises 4Winding a plurality-of convolutions of wire on a reel to form a panel of/screen-cloth having alengthsuiiicient screen cloth from Vsaid reel, thereafter tensioning said panelof screen cloth, attaching Vadditional end bars thereto -to form screen cloth sections, and severing the ywires between said Aadditional end bars.

3. The method` of making av plurality4 of Nscreen cloth-sectionsformed ofparallel strands of wire nwhich-comprises making a panel of screen cloth having a'length sufficient fora plurality. of screen vclothsections having end bars attached to oppositie ends of said panel, tensioning said panel between saidattachedendbars, attachinga pair Y ofintermediate endV bars-between therflrst named endbars, and-severingthe wires between said pair of` intermediate end bars.

L4. Themethodtof producing-ascreencloth of 'a -pluralityof strands of Aparallel .wire which comprises -winding on `a reela panel having-an ultimate length suiicient to make a plurality of screen sections, attaching at closely adjacent positions a .pairl of end .bars,`severing the -wires between-said end. bars, and removing said-panel fromsaid reel.

5. The methodgof` producing a screen cloth of a plurality -of strands ofA parallelwire -whichcomprises Awinding on a-reel-suiiicient wire to'form apa-nel, attaching to the wire-a-pair-of end-bars securing a` pair ofr adjacent connecting bars to the parallel strands of wire, relieving the tension on the strands of wire after suchbars have 4been secured thereto, and severingthe strands of wire i .between the bars afterL .such tensionl has been relieved.

comprises attaching connecting bars vto a plurality of strands of wire while held in spaced parallelism, severing the wires between the bars to form a panel with the bars at the ends thereof, subjecting such panel to tension, and while the wires are under tension securing thereto a connecting strip intermediate the end bars.

8. The method of making a wire screen cloth which comprises holding strands of wire in spaced parallel relation, s-ecuring a pair of adjacent connecting bars to such strands of wire, and severing the wires between the bars.

9. The method of producing a screen cloth of a plurality of parallel strands of wire which comprises forming an endless panel of such wire, attaching a pair of end bars to such panel so as to be closely adjacent to each other, and severing the wires between the clos-ely adjacent bars.

10. The method of producing screen cloth from an endless panel of wire strands, which comprises attaching a pair of connectingbars to such panel with the bars closely adjacent and both in the same plane, and severing the wire strands between the bars to form a flat panel with such bars serving as its end bars.

11. The method of making screen cloths which comprises winding a continuous wirek on a reel to form a panel of suflicient length for a plurality of screen cloths end to end, attaching a plurality of pairs of connecting bars to said wires with the bars of each pair closely adjacent, and severing the wires between the bars of each pair to form a plurality of screen cloth panels.

12. The method of producing a plurality of screen cloth units from endless panel of wire strands, which comprises attaching a plurality of spaced-apart pairs of connecting bars to such panel with the bars of each pair closely adjacent,

wire to tension, pressing closely adjacent connecting bars against such strands of wire while the latter are under tension,y applying heating means to said bars to solder the same to said wire strands, and severing the wires between the bars.

14. The method of making screen cloth which comprises attaching connecting end bars to a plurality of strands of wire to form a panel, subjecting the panel to tension by exerting a pulling force on the connecting lbar at one end of the panel while the connecting bar at the other end of the panel is anchored, and while the strands of wire are under tension securing thereto an intermediate connecting strip.

15. The method of making a plurality of screen cloth units, which comprises placing a screen panel of wire strands under tension, securing a pair of adjacent connecting bars to such strands intermediate the ends of the panel and severing the wires between the said bars.

16. The method of making a plurality of screen cloth units, which comprises attaching connectand severing the wires between the bars of each pair to form separate and individual screen cloth units.

13. The method of producing a screen cloth which comprises the formation of a panel of paallel strands of wire, subjecting such strands 'of ing bars to the ends of a screen panel having a plurality of parallel strands of wire, placing the panel under tension by exerting a pulling force on one connecting bar while the other is anchored, securing to such strands of wire intermediate the ends of the panel a pair of adjacent connecting bars, and severing the wires between the adjacent bars to form two separate screen cloth units.

1'7. The method of making a plurality of screen cloth units, which comprises attaching connecting bars to a plurality of strands of wire to form a panel, securing a pair of connecting bars to such strands of wire, securing connecting strips to the strands of wire between the ends of the panel and said pair of connecting bars, and severing the wires between the bars of said pair to form separate screen cloth units each having connecting end bars and an intermediate connecting strip.

RICHARD D. HELLER. 

